The Discipline of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (EECE), on the Howard College campus hosted a distinguished lecture by Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Fellow Professor Sumit Roy, Professor of Integrated Systems and Director of the Fundamentals of Networking Laboratory at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

The lecture revolved around spectrum coexistence in the context of the transition from 4G to 5G wireless networks and was attended by academics, postgraduate students and IEEE-HKN Mu Eta Chapter members.

Roy shared insights on the challenges and possible solutions in relation to the current industrial spectrum. He highlighted the inefficient spectrum use of the finite spectrum that has led to innovative ways of re-using/sharing the available spectrum more efficiently between multiple users such as small-cell LTE and Wi-Fi networks. Roy noted that the current topic of active interest is spectrum coexistence following the transition from 4G to 5G network deployments. Due to Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA), spectral sensing will be a key enabler of 5G shared networks.

Roy also met with postgraduate students on a one-on-one basis for 15 to 20 minutes on 23 August to discuss their research ideas and directions and to facilitate possible collaborations and a post-doctoral fellowship.

The programme was sponsored by the Centre for Radio Access and Rural Technology (CRART) at UKZN, with Dr Tom Walingo giving closing remarks on behalf of the discipline and the centre.

Words: Nicholas Oyie

Photograph: Christian Ishimwe